Create, restore and test a QuickBooks Point of Sale for Desktop backup

QuickBooks Point of Sale for Desktop at times needs to be updated and would require changes such as: uninstalling the application, importing of files or transferring from one computer to another. To ensure files are not affected, a backup has to be created. Creating backups is also necessary to recover from data loss.

This article provides steps to create, restore and test the backup in QuickBooks Point of Sale for Desktop.

Detailed instructions

A backup of your company data is a compressed copy of your data placed in a location outside the company data folder. Since the file is compressed, it cannot be opened in the same way that a company file is opened. Before this data can be opened in QuickBooks Point of Sale for Desktop, it must be decompressed through the Restore function.

Create a backup:

Choose File and select Back Up Data.

Specify the backup location:

To back up to the default folder on the local hard drive, select Default Location.

To back up to a network drive or removable media, select Specify Alternate Location and enter the path or browse to the backup location and enter a file name.

Click Backup. QuickBooks Point of Sale for Desktop will verify the integrity of your data and perform the backup to the designated location.

Restore a backup:

Choose File and select Company Operations.

Select Restore from Backup and click Next.

Specify the location you wish to restore from:

To restore from the default folder on the local hard drive, select Restore from default backups and select a backup file from the list displayed.

To restore from a network drive or removable media, select Browse to alternate backup file and enter the path or browse to the location of the backup file.

Click OK.

Note: QuickBooks Point of Sale for Desktop will uncompress and copy the backup files into your working directory. You will be prompted to insert sequential restore disks if required.

Test the backup and restore functions in QuickBooks Point of Sale for Desktop:

Make a backup copy of your company file. (follow steps to Create a Backup )

Create a new customer in your data file using a fictitious name such as John Doe.

Choose File > Restore Backup File.

Select the backup created in step 1. (Identify the correct backup by the date and time.)

Click OK, enter YES to confirm, and click OK again.

Click OK when the restore process completes.

Locate the customer you create in step 2.

Note: If the customer name created cannot be found in this file, it confirms that the backup and restore processes are functioning as designed since the customer was created after the backup was created.